Understanding Secondary Infertility
Infertility is more common than people realize. The CDC estimates that nearly 12 percent of women aged 15 to 44 have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term. Despite this statistic, many individuals assume that if they have already conceived a child naturally, having another should not be an issue.
Some couples struggle with secondary infertility, and this often comes as an unpleasant surprise. Individuals in the Omaha, NE, area who are struggling with secondary infertility can work with the specialists at our infertility clinic, Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, PC. Our fertility specialists can help patients understand the causes of secondary infertility, and how it can be treated.
What Is Secondary Infertility?
Most people are familiar with the term “infertility,” but many do not realize that there are two types of infertility: primary and secondary. Primary infertility describes a situation in which someone is trying to get pregnant for the first time and they are unsuccessful after a year or more of trying. Secondary infertility refers to difficulty conceiving after already going through at least one prior successful pregnancy.
As with primary infertility, secondary infertility can be a result of either male or female fertility problems. At some stage of the conception process, something is going wrong and making attempts to become pregnant unsuccessful.
Causes of Secondary Infertility
Those who are unable to become pregnant a second time are often confused about what causes secondary infertility, because they expect that a previously successful pregnancy would indicate that there are no fertility issues present. Unfortunately, male and female fertility can both change over time, either as a result of aging, health issues, or even reasons that are unexplained.
As with primary infertility, there are a number of issues that can cause secondary infertility for our Omaha patients, including:
- Irregular ovulation
- Poor egg quality
- Endometriosis
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Scarring, polyps, or fibroids in the uterus
- Scarring from a previous c-section
- Infections
- Autoimmune disorders
- Low sperm count
- Poor sperm motility
Treating Secondary Infertility
Struggling with secondary infertility can be extremely disheartening. Fortunately, just because a couple is having difficulty conceiving another child, that doesn’t mean they cannot build on to their family. There are several fertility treatments that are able to address the most common causes of secondary infertility (including those that are unknown), so that couples can have another child.
To determine the most appropriate treatment method for each of our Omaha patients who are dealing with secondary infertility, our doctors will perform a fertility evaluation, which involves a series of tests that assess the various aspects of male and female fertility.
Depending on what fertility tests reveal, there are several different treatment methods that may be recommended to our patients, such as:
- Fertility medication
- Surgical treatment
- Medical treatment for infections or other health problems
- Intrauterine insemination
- In vitro fertilization
- In vitro fertilization with donor eggs or sperm
Contact Our Fertility Specialists
If you have been unsuccessful in adding another child to your family, you may be struggling with secondary infertility. The fertility specialists at Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, PC would be happy to work with you to create an effective fertility treatment plan. To learn more, send us a message online, or call us at (402) 267-9076.